The Herd with Colin Cowherd
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PodcastThe Herd with Colin Cowherd
Publisher/creatoriHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Shortcast updated
About this episode
Former NFL scout John Middlekauff reacts LIVE to the NFL Week 18 matchup between Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks vs. Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers with the NFC West division title on the line. John will also react to the earlier matchup between Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers vs. Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the NFC South divisional title up for grabs. John will react to the biggest plays of the day, breaking news from around the NFL and college football, and much more! 03:56 - Seahawks-49ers 45:54 - Panthers-Buccaneers Follow John on Twitter , Instagram and YouTube for the latest. All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet Use promo code “3ANDOUT20” on https://nicokick.com/zone for 20% off at checkout! Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow - for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode summary
What is going on, everybody? I’m rolling late Saturday, and the headline is simple: Seattle took it to the 49ers and grabbed the one seed while San Francisco got beat up and banged up.
Why am I giving Seattle their due? They were long shots to win the West, haven’t hosted a playoff game since 2017, and they just earned a nasty home-field edge that’s as real as it gets.
What did Mike Macdonald do to Kyle Shanahan? He dismantled the Niners’ run-first identity with a disciplined, violent defense and elite tackling on the back end, flipped time of possession, and buried them in first downs.
How did the run game swing it? Charbonnet and Walker churned out yards while McCaffrey got walled off, and that’s the Niners’ kryptonite because their pass game is built off the ground attack; Purdy wasn’t the problem, and the red-zone pick came off a drop.
What about Sam Darnold? He played within the Kubiak-Shanahan structure, stayed on time, and was efficient; if Seattle keeps him under 30 throws and pounds the rock, that formula plays, especially in rough weather.
Is he really an upgrade over Geno? Yeah—Geno’s a great story, but Darnold gives them more command in this scheme and handled the moment against a proud, well-coached team.
Where are the 49ers right now? Their defense is held together by backups, the front can’t win enough, and they’re not built for low-scoring slugfests; one long flight east in the Wild Card and it gets even tougher.
Did tonight change Coach of the Year talk? It did for me; Kyle’s case cooled, and Macdonald’s statement win vaulted him right into the center of it.
Who should Seattle want next? Honestly, they’d rather see Philly or Chicago than the Rams; a divisional bout with L.A. in that first playoff game would be a rough draw.
What was that early NFC South game? It felt like the preseason, and I’ll bang this drum forever: a division winner under five hundred should not host; slot them at the bottom or flip home field to their opponent.
What’s the big-picture takeaway? Seattle’s identity is violent, smart, and unbelievably sound in space—think echoes of the LOB—and that kind of defense still travels in January.
Bottom line, Seattle’s the one seed, the Niners are in a bad spot, and the bracket could get weird fast; Adios, have a great night, and see you tomorrow.
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